Officer arrested after punching man in face at Super Bowl party

A 13-year veteran of the Metro Nashville Police Department has been charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly punched a man in the face following a Super Bowl party Sunday night.

South Precinct Sgt. Vernon Johnson, 40, surrendered at police headquarters Monday afternoon after Jonathan Gourdine told police Johnson punched him in the face after accusing him of kissing Johnson’s girlfriend.

As a result of the investigation, the MNPD decommissioned Johnson, suspending his police authority.

According to police, Johnson and his girlfriend watched the Super Bowl at a party in the Priest Lake area and left after the game without any problems.

Gourdine, 44, who police said was visiting from Georgia, told investigators that Johnson returned to the house at about 10:30 p.m. and accused Gourdine of kissing Johnson’s girlfriend earlier in the night.

Johnson then allegedly punched Gourdine in the face, knocking him to the ground. Johnson then got into his car and drove off, Gourdine told police.